Chapter 22

The hospital was soon filled with ANBU and Junin when news from the locals heard strange sounds and screams inside. As ANBU checked the inside for anything, Junin outside kept a growing crowd back and kept a watchful eye on the outside exits. On every floor the ANBU investigated, they discovered many corpses and blood trails. They had also discovered a large cavern from the basement level that seemed to go through the basement and up to the first floor. A group of ANBU went through the hole and came back a few hours later stating that the hole led to a couple miles outside of the village walls. As the search kept going up every level of the hospital, nurses and doctors were discovered on secured levels of the hospital; most of the survivors where located in freezers and places with cold air. When asked as to why they where in these locations, their only answer where protection from the cold-blooded snake. As soon as the entire building was searched the Nin went up to the roof. What they found surprised and scared them a bit. A large cadaver of what used to be a snake was what greeted them as soon as they walked through the large hole in what used to be a door. One of the ANBU almost fell backwards into the building when he came face to face with the snake head. They found two exhausted ANBU on the roof near the snake sleeping. When the identity of the two was discovered, the ANBU search party on the roof walked towards the two sleeping forms.

Rin Higurashi was the first of the two to awaken to the footsteps of a group of three heading towards them. Her sensitive ears, even in human form, where able to make out that the group was composed of two men and one woman; all heavily armed by the sound of their heavy footsteps. Rin opened her eyes and shut them back tightly as soon as the bright morning sun reflected on her blue eyes. Her head started to hurt and swim painfully as she started to move her rigid body. She yelped in pain as a jolt went up her arm and shoulder and was soon rushed by nausea and an even more painful headache. As she grabbed onto the side of her head she felt a presence behind her try to lift her up. She placed her arm around the other person's shoulder and started to limp with them towards the 'doorway' that led into the building. She looked at the person that was carrying her and smiled at the mask that belonged to Marina, her fellow teammate under Kagome's command. She stopped and looked at Kagome as she was lifted by two fellow ANBU members from their team on their shoulders. The group headed down the partly destroyed stairs and then came up to the destroyed staircase of the 48th floor. Marina and Rin looked down and whistled at the same time. They turned at each other and laughed. They turned around and saw that the two ANBU and Kagome had turned onto what was a makeshift platform that led into the 49th floor and headed towards it. As they entered the 49th floor they saw many people rushing around and looking for anyone else in the building. A couple of ninja went passed them and up to the roof to clear the mess up on the roof by request of the two ANBU members ahead of them that were carrying Kagome between them. As soon as they reached another set of stairs that appeared untouched by the damage they felt a small tremor in the building.

"What the hell was that?!" asked one of the ANBU that was holding Kagome. His partner just shrugged and kept on moving down the stairs. Another tremor went off and shook the building, causing the people inside the stairway to fall and drop whatever they were holding, including wounded and dead. An intercom went through the building and alerted the occupants of tremors in the area that were caused by small explosions on the roof that were meant to clear the snake carcass and to prepare for them. Someone downstairs yelled "No shit!" and caused everyone to laugh and lighten the grim atmosphere. The building was hit with two more explosions and seized after that. The group headed down the stairs all the way to the 1st floor and stopped to look at the blocked pathway by ANBU and barricades that led to the basement. They nodded at each other and kept on moving towards the front entrance of the hospital. Rin felt tears form around the rim of her eyes as she looked at the blood on the floor where her fellow ANBU member was last night. She prayed that he didn't feel anything and turned her eyes to the hospital entrance. ANBU, Junin, villagers and some medical and fire staff were looking at them. Two ANBU stood at the entrance of the hospital and looked at them. Rin shielded her eyes as she looked up at the bright sky. She heard someone yell her name and she turned to the voice. She almost fainted with joy as she saw the ANBU who was supposedly dead last night. She loosened her grip on Marina's shoulder and tried as best as she could to run to him.

"I thought you would make it…" the ANBU stated with a smirk underneath his mask. Rin smiled and cried tears of joy that her friend was still alive but was wondering how he had escaped the snake. As if sensing her question he lifted what remained of his left arm. Rin gasped and placed her hands to her mouth. His entire left arm was gone and wrapped in gauss bandages. "The snake bit my arm when it heard you scream and left me to die as its master told it that there were more important things than me. Rin hugged the ANBU, causing both to hiss at their bruises. Rin rose and shook her head. "No one is more important than anyone; no one is expendable, even us soldiers…But who was the snake's master?" Rin asked. The ANBU's eyes turned hard as he looked at Rin and uttered one word that caused Rin to involuntarily shake. "Orochimaru…"

The next day…

The hospital and its staff had quickly been replaced but the past occupants and staff was not forgotten. As soon as the hospital was repaired the staff made a plaque inside to those that had died on the night of the attack. Soon the hospital was back to its old self and was accepting patients day after day as if nothing happened; professionalism even in times of hardship and loss. Rin and Kagome Higurashi had been admitted into the hospital before repairs commenced and the general populace was admitted in. According to what doctors and nurses remained, Rin had been lucky that the snake had not decided to bit her arm off right then and there. She would be able to return back to active duty as soon as her wounds healed in a couple days; her quick healing abilities saw to that. Her fellow ANBU member had not been so lucky. He evidently lost his arm and was unable to continue his professionalism. He would no longer be an ANBU or Nin for the rest of his life, much to his dismay and disappointment. Kagome Higurashi was a total different story. After her initial analysis was complete, doctors had stated that Kagome Higurashi was dieing from an unknown but powerful poison. No one was advised of this because the patient kept fighting off death, causing people to wonder if she was going to die or not. Visitors were denied to both Higurashi's but that didn't stop a 230 pound animal from searching the hospital up and down for them. ANBU were placed in and outside the patients rooms and were alerted of an animal in the building by hospital staff. As soon as the ANBU that were guarding Kagome Higurashi were alerted to this, they heard the elevator doors down the hall ding. They were on the 20th floor and the elevator read 18th and kept rising. ANBU had asked the staff to stop the elevator and lock it down. Staff was barely able to stop the elevator between the 19th and 20th floor. Two ANBU approached the elevator doors and pulled out their weapons. What they heard was a loud bang somewhere below followed by footsteps on the elevator roof. As they kept on looking at the elevator doors for any sign of movement they sweat dropped when they heard the animal sniff through the elevator doors. Their keen eyes saw the animals black nose as it placed near the elevator opening, or in this case, where it would have opened. One ANBU poked at the nose with his kunai and caused the animal behind the door to growl and bang against the elevator door. As the animal banged on the door, it left large dents and almost destroyed the doors on the first go. The ANBU backed away as the bangs continued to echo through the hall. The doors flew apart and to the dismay of the ANBU landed on top of them. The ANBU and doctors inside Kagome's room looked at each other and then at the door. Something started to scratch the door in an almost annoying dog kind of way.

"What the hell is that?" one of the ANBU asked his teammates. They all jumped when the supposedly sleeping Kagome Higurashi spoke. "Let that oversized dog in." The ANBU looked at each other, at Kagome, and then at the door. One of the ANBU moved towards it and grabbed onto the doorknob. Before he pulled open the door a dark shape past by him with lightning speed. Everyone looked at the wolf on Kagome's chest licking her giggling face.

"Oversized dog?! Dog?! I'm no dog Higurashi! Did you forget I can get smaller if I wish? Maybe I should turn back into the 200 pound wolf I usually am hmmm?" Shadow laughed internally. He was concerned that the rumors were true. He had heard that she was dieing from the same poison he was affected by from doctors that were visiting the veterinarian. He had searched the hospital she was supposedly in and had caused quite an uproar for the hospital staff. No one besides the Nin of the village knew who he was and was quite intimidated by his presence. He thought that the power in the building shut off when he was in the elevator, which was occupied with people when he went in on the first floor, causing them to run out. When he realized that it would not turn back on, he looked around and noticed and opening, the elevator shaft, and jumped to the roof of the elevator. He didn't know where he was so he stuck his nose on a small sliver of light and took a couple whiffs. He smelled Kagome and started to wag his tail when his nose was poked by a sharp object. He became angry and thought it was the elevator doors closing around his nose. He slammed onto the 'evil' elevator and broke it apart. He entered the hall and looked at the two unconscious, squiggly eyed ANBU underneath the elevator doors. "Oops…" Shadow grinned. When Kagome's scent got stronger he started to wag his tail again. He headed towards the smell and noticed a door in his way. He thought against slamming the door again. "Wouldn't want to have the door landing on her as well do we?" Shadow smirked. Remembering that he couldn't walk through the door or elevator because it wasn't the castle made him get annoyed but he just did what came to mind of a 230 pound wolf: he scratched the door. He heard a commotion behind the door and felt Kagome's presence. As soon as he heard the distinctive click of the doorknob being fully turned, he saw Kagome on the bed, turned into a smaller form of himself, and dashed towards her all in a blink of an eye. Kagome had barley any time to prepare herself as her companion jumped onto the bed with her.

She laughed at his comment and at his attention he was currently giving her face. Her doctors stared at them with caring eye and her companions in the ANBU laughed and smiled. Everyone in the room, except Kagome and Shadow, wondered how Kagome had recovered so quickly from her affliction. Just a few hours ago her doctors had stated she might not make it! Animals had that kind effect on owners and close friends. People would wonder why and came to the prediction that animals gave the patient a renewed vigor and instantly felt better; and with time, would become better, sometimes time was not even needed. This led to possible connections between master and animal minds, feelings, and way of life; both best friends. Sure enough, when the doctors checked Kagome for any poison in her system they found none. Shadow constantly was seen at the foot of the bed were Kagome lain, ever watching with his keen eyes. Once, when staff and patients were finally being readmitted into the hospital, a new doctor came inside Kagome's room and nervously came face to face with a snarling Shadow, who had heard him coming even before he opened the door. Shadow's ears had become acute to listening to the footsteps on this floor and could tell how many people where on the floor, becoming a sort of sensitive security system for the hospital. Soon Kagome was granted leave and walked out of the hospital with Shadow in tow. As soon as they reached the outside they were swarmed by everyone they knew, well some of them anyways. Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Sakura where not there to say hello because they were busy training intensely and could not take a break until late afternoon. Kakuzu was busy trying to sell some of Hidan's relics in order to get money into an Akatsuki Life Insurance fund. Hidan was busy trying to find Kakuzu before his 'holy' relics were sold. Itachi and Kisame were sent to a diplomatic mission to the Village Hidden in the Sand a few days ago in order to fix broken ties between the two villages. Tobi, Konan, Zetsu, Sesshomaru, Kagura, Shippo, Kirara, Rin, and her teammates in her ANBU team were there to see her. All in all, twelve people were there asking question (damn those question!), and giving her things. Konan had made her a paper raven that flew around when ever Kagome was close, Zetsu gave her a bunch of plants that HE considered beautiful, Sesshomaru and Kagura gave her sibling-like hugs and smiles, Shippo and Kirara gave her a bouquet of flowers to which Zetsu considered second class because they had bought it from a blonde girl named Ino that 'clearly had no talent at choosing the best of the flock'. Her team members had given her curt nods and handshakes and Tobi had given her a rock that he said could talk.

Kagome and her group of friends started to head towards the castle when someone behind them started to yell Kagome's last name and carrying something in their hands. Kagome looked at the woman that was running towards them. She was dressed in a black robe that flowed like her black short hair in the wind as she ran towards the group. From what Kagome could see she wore fish netting and bandages underneath her black kimono. She looked young, was pretty, and had an extremely busy aura around her. The object in her hands was wrapped in a cloth and looked to be the size of a small dog. When the woman reached the group Kagome realized that the woman was one of the doctors that had brought her back to health. She was embarrassed that she did not know the woman's name but did not expect to see her again. Her friend sensed this and had saved her from embarrassment and an awkward situation.

"Shizune numbskull…" Shadow snickered. Kagome gave Shadow an angry look and sent him a message that made him widen his eyes and grovel at her feet.

"Nooo! Nothing but that please! They think I'm made of steel! Those brats at the playground would pull my ears off and won't think it hurt!" Kagome smiled and looked towards Shizune.

"Ahh Shizune-Chan how have you been?" she stated with a smile. Shizune took a few intakes of air and stood up. Shizune smiled back and stuck out the object towards Kagome, to which she looked at questioningly. "You almost forgot this Ms. Higurashi. We took care of it as requested by your adopted daughter." Kagome nodded at Rin and grabbed the object and removed the cloth. Her eyes watched as the Sun Gauntlet grew brighter as the sun started to shine on the gold weapon. Everyone looked at the gauntlet in amazement and somewhere in the village Kakuzu looked up and thought 'moneymaker nearby'. Everyone gave a small gasp as the gauntlet moved towards Kagome's outstretched arm and attached itself onto it. A small whirring and gears moving was heard as the gauntlet actually got smaller to accommodate Kagome's arm size.

"Fits like a glove…" Kagome stated as she rose it up and looked at it. As soon as a ray of shining light hit the gauntlet in a certain way a large pillar of light went up to the sky and was seen as a long pillar of gold light. Everyone in the village saw this and looked at it in amazement. Just then Kagome remembered what she was going to do a couple of days ago. She lowered her hand, shook Shizune's hand that looked at Kagome with an awestruck look, and ran past her bewildered friends. She ran at such high speeds that Shadow had trouble catching up. She ran so fast that when people walked by they felt a sudden gust of wind and had bewildered looks. Kagome hadn't really notice how fast she was going until she hit the door of her room in the castle face first, Shadow crashing into her from behind and bursting the door open. They rolled into the room and looked at how they both landed and laughed. Kagome groaned as she got up and started to pack her stuff. She packed some extra clothing, food, weapons, and medical supplies. When she packed her things up and was about to leave her room she noticed something on her bed. She picked it up and noticed it was a note.

Higurashi,

Kabuto has been detained and states he will not speak with anyone. We were wondering if you can shine some light on the subject on how you detained Kabuto when even fifteen of are ANBU could not. Please see me as soon as you are up and ready. Just a few question, no need to 'talk' to Kabuto unless you want to.

See you soon,

Ibiki Morino

Kagome grinned at his last comment and shoved the paper into her left breast pocket. She headed out of the castle and started to run again at lighting speed towards the ANBU compound, much to the annoyance of Shadow who only had seconds of rest. They reached the compound and were greeted by Ibiki. They walked around the compound talking for an hour about what had happened; to put it plainly: Kabuto took the form of someone that was close to Kagome, attacked her and tried to take her to Orochimaru, got his ass kicked much to the amazement of Kabuto and Ibiki himself, and Kagome fell unconscious after that. She had looked at Shadow for a few moments and then at Ibiki. Shadow had informed her of the blanks and corrected her on some key points of the fighting. Kabuto did get his ass kicked but he had taken a couple pills to regain his strength. Even after taking the pills he was defeated by the combined strength of Kagome's different trainings: Demon, Nin, and Mystic. Ibiki pulled out something from his pocket and handed it to Kagome. She looked at the small brown bag with pills questioningly and looked at Ibiki. Ibiki stated that the pills were a Military Rations Pill that gave the user an emergency surge of charka, technically replenishing it. He said that she was free to keep the pills for emergencies and put it in her pack. Ibiki thanked Kagome and was about to leave when Kagome remembered that she also needed to ask someone in command for certain people to accompany her.

"Ibiki hold up!" Ibiki turned around and looked at Kagome patiently. "I need to go on a mission and was wondering if I can take a few active-duty ANBU with me." She stated. Ibiki nodded and as if reading her mind, held out four fingers. Kagome smiled and had hoped to be able to take her team with her. She started to walk out of the compound and started to talk to herself quietly.

"Rin…Marina…Kinjo…Sasaku and me. That leaves two more people, but whom?"